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Futenma ‘the issue’ for two Ginowan mayoral candidates

Date Posted: 2010-11-26

Two seasoned politicians are officially in the fray for Sunday’s mayoral election, both wanting to take the job forfeited by Yoichi Iha, who resigned to run for governor.

Former deputy mayor Takeshi Asato and former House of Representatives member Osamu Ashitomi are on the ballot to be mayor of Ginowan City. Both are independents, although both have aligned themselves with other election candidates affiliated with established parties.

The 58-year-old Asato is joining forces with former mayor Iha, and shares Iha’s position that Futenma Marine Corps Air Station in Ginowan City should be moved out of Japan to Guam. The 54-year-old Ashitomi is teaming with Okinawa’s governor, Hirokazu, in lobbying for Futenma to be moved out of Okinawa Prefecture.